Chapter 456: He’s Not a Thief
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
At night, Hong Yujun left her room and headed towards the workshop.
Wu Yaqing, who was coming out for a drink of water, saw her and decided to join her. Thus, the two of them walked together to the workshop.
The journey took five minutes. Under the starry night sky, bathed in the bright moonlight and accompanied by a cool breeze, their long hair fluttered elegantly.
Wu Yaqing picked a foxtail grass and played with it in her hand, “Yujun, isn’t it much more convenient now?”
Hong Yujun replied with a charming smile, “Indeed, and I also like the atmosphere of this village.”
Wu Yaqing bent down and picked a handful of foxtail grass, tying them into a bundle and handing them to Hong Yujun, “Welcome to Chu’s village.”
Hong Yujun accepted the foxtail grass with a smile, her joy evident, “Thank you.”
Chatting and laughing, they reached the workshop. Wu Yaqing held a lantern for Hong Yujun, who checked the wine-making process.
Just when they were almost done, they suddenly heard messy footsteps. They exchanged glances, wondering if there was a thief.
Wu Yaqing, being braver, handed the lantern to Hong Yujun and picked up a stick from the corner, moving step by step towards the workshop’s entrance.
Hong Yujun pulled her back, shaking her head.
Wu Yaqing smiled reassuringly at Hong Yujun and patted her hand, signaling that everything was fine.
She listened at the door. The intruder had heavy breathing and clumsy steps – either a physically impaired person or someone injured. Wu Yaqing decided to confront the intruder.
She opened the workshop door, shouted “Catch the thief!” and charged in, swinging the stick vigorously at the intruder.
Wu Yaqing was ferocious, shouting as she struck, “Audacious thief, how dare you steal from the workshop! Today, you’ll learn your lesson.”
Hong Yujun, not wanting her good friend to face danger alone, also picked up a stick and charged in.
Meanwhile, villagers gathered, with Chu Qingzhi being the first to arrive, followed by Tang Jinghong…
The intruder, now unconscious in the corner, had been severely beaten.
Wu Yaqing and Hong Yujun, seeing Chu Qingzhi, dropped their sticks and hid behind her.
Wu Yaqing pointed at the corner and said urgently, “He’s the thief.”
Chu Qingzhi glanced over and saw the man, bloodied and injured, beaten too cruelly.
When Tang Jinghong arrived, he took the lantern and approached the figure. The man looked familiar…
As the lantern illuminated the man’s bruised face, Tang Jinghong only had one thought in mind. Brother, you’ve had a rough time.
Handing the lantern to Chu Qingzhi, he said with a hint of helplessness, “He’s not a thief; he’s Third Master Lu.
Chu Qingzhi was stunned.
The two women were bewildered, realizing they might have attacked one of their own.
The villagers arrived with torches, looking like a dragon of fire. They heard the conversation just in time. Understanding it was a case of mistaken identity, several strong men helped carry the unconscious man back, placing him in Tang Jinghong’s house.
After settling the man, many villagers returned home, leaving only a few to help.
With the man near death, Chu Qingzhi asked Tang Jinghong to remove his clothes to treat his wounds immediately, or he would bleed to death.
After undressing him, Tang Jinghong saw that Third Master Lu was covered in sword wounds, some deep and some shallow, at least twenty in total. The deepest one was bone-deep, and all were bleeding profusely, quickly creating a pool of blood where he lay.
Tang Jinghong frowned, wondering if Tang Jinghong had been betrayed or hunted.
Given Third Master Lu’s enemies in the underworld, being pursued was not surprising.
Chu Qingzhi fed Third Master Lu a medicinal pill, put on gloves, and began to stitch his wounds. She worked as if sewing clothes, leaving Tang Jinghong at a loss for words, but the bleeding slowed as the wounds were stitched up.
After stitching up the wounds and applying medicine, Chu Qingzhi’s remedies, infused with spiritual energy, instantly stopped the bleeding. Even the bruises began to fade after a while.
Chu Qingzhi bandaged Third Master Lu like a mummy, as he had too many wounds, and this method was the most efficient.
“Jinghong, I’ve finished bandaging. I’ll go check if Qingning’s medicine is ready.”
“Okay.”
As Chu Qingzhi stepped out, she saw Wu Yaqing and Hong Yujun standing at the door, looking guilty. They had almost beaten an already severely injured man to death.
Wu Yaqing rushed to Chu Qingzhi, anxiously asking, “Is he, has he been saved?”
Hong Yujun also hurried over, anxiously waiting for the answer.
Chu Qingzhi nodded, “He’s been saved. Don’t blame yourselves; anyone would have reacted the same way in your situation.”
Wu Yaqing sighed in relief, “As long as he’s saved.”
“You should both get some rest. Everything’s fine here.”
Wu Yaqing and Hong Yujun nodded, “Then we’ll head back.”
“Good night.”
The two left, holding each other’s hands, looking back frequently.
In the kitchen, Chu Qingning was fanning the medicinal stove. The air was filled with a bitter medicinal scent. “Fourth Sister.”
Chu Qingning turned around, “Fifth Sister, the medicine will be ready in a bit.”
“No rush.” Chu Qingzhi went to wash her blood-stained gloves and hands, thinking about Third Master Lu’s severe condition.
“The medicine is ready,” Chu Qingning said, pouring it into a bowl.
Chu Qingzhi picked up the bowl, “Fourth Sister, you can go rest. I’ll deliver this and come back soon.”
Chu Qingning shook her head, ‘Til go with you, and we’ll head home together.”
Chu Qingzhi smiled, “Let’s go.
When Chu Qingzhi returned with the medicine, the formidable Third Master Lu had already woken up. His expression was strange at first, but he relaxed upon seeing Tang Jinghong.
“Time for your medicine.”
Tang Jinghong helped Third Master Lu sit up and jokingly asked, “Do you need me to feed you?”
“No need, I’m not so weak as to be fed.” His voice was cold and firm, even his speech carried a chill.
He took the bowl and drank the medicine in one gulp, boldly like drinking liquor.
Tang Jinghong said, “Rest well. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
Third Master Lu nodded, “Thanks.”
Tang Jinghong patted Third Master Lu’s shoulder. “You don’t have to be so polite with me.”
They left the room..